In 2004, a group of concerned parents met to address a major issue: Local teens had no good place to go after school to have fun in a safe environment. Thanks to their initiative and the support of local officials, the Teen Center opened at the former site of People Plus in the St. Charles Church on Noble Street. In 2010, People Plus moved to the current facility on Union Street, and it’s been a huge success.
The Teen Center is open from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and about 20-25 kids grade 6-12 attend on a typical day. “They roll off the school bus and come pounding up the stairs to grab bananas and goldfish (crackers) and ask, “‘What’s for dinner?,’” says Stacy Frizzle, executive director of People Plus, the sponsoring organization, which operates in the same facility. “There’s not a lot of structure, but there are well defined parameters. They need a place where they can relax and just be kids.”
Stacy attributes much of the Teen Center’s success to Jordan Cardon, Volunteer Coordinator of the Center, and one of the original founders “Jordan’s talents run the gamut — part mom, part disciplinarian, part mentor and part chef. She’s fantastic, multitasking like nobody’s business. And the kids love her.”
“It’s a great place for kids to hang out with their friends,” says Jordan. Small wonder, given the facilities and activities available: free Wi- Fi and computers; pool table; acoustic guitars; Netflix and DVDs; an outdoor basketball hoop; card games, board games and art supplies; and assistance with homework.
“I love the job because I love the kids,” says Jordan. “My teenage years were rough, so I can relate to them. The job keeps me young.” Jordan also notes the direct impact the Center has had on her own kids.
Stacy Frizzle also cites the tremendous support that the Brunswick Area Teen Center has received from all segments of the community, including Bowdoin College students, since the very beginning. She lauds the generosity of donors, singling out Jim Howard, President and CEO of Priority Real Estate Group for special attention. “Jim was homeless as a teen, and he said to me, ‘Don’t ever let those kids go hungry.’”
Jim Howard sometimes visits the Teen Center to talk with the kids.
“I tell them to believe in themselves, to pay attention, and to work hard in school,” says Jim. “I also tell them to get a mentor, and the Teen Center serves as a mentor for a lot of them. They learn how to make better decisions.”
When asked why he’s so committed to supporting the Teen Center and several other nonprofit organizations in the area, Jim explained, “I admired the giving-back philosophy of the business leaders in the community who came before me, and I decided that that’s a good way to do business.”
Yes, good things happen when good people get together to solve a problem. And the Brunswick Area Teen Center has proven to be a very good thing indeed. (For more information, go to peopleplusmaine.org/ and then click on the Teen Center bar.)
David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future Just a Little Old columns. dtreadw575@aol.com.
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